News Release

Michigan Firm Recalls Ham Products That Were Produced Without A HACCP Plan

WASHINGTON, Mar. 2, 2013 - Byron Center Wholesale Meats, a Byron Center, Michigan, establishment, is recalling approximately 6,586 pounds of ham products that were produced without a Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The recalled products bear the establishment number "Est. 2592" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced prior to March 1, 2013, and were distributed in Michigan and Indiana.

The problem was discovered when an FSIS inspector observed establishment personnel making diced and sliced ham products from whole hams. These hams were labeled as fully cooked, but the company does not have a HACCP plan for fully cooked product or a Listeria control program. Further investigation revealed other Ready-To-Eat and heat-treated products produced without HACCP plans. HACCP plans, in which establishments identify potential hazards associated with a given product, and identify a means of addressing those hazards in the production process, are required for all products.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of illness at this time. Anyone concerned about an illness from consumption of these products should contact a healthcare provider. FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact Steve Sytsma, the company's President, at (616) 878-1578.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at www.AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Problems_With_Food_Products/index.asp

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Labels

Affected States

IN,MI

USDA Recall Classifications

Class I

This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

Class II

This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.

Class III

This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.